New Mario Games on NSO: MAR10 Day 2026 Update Virtual Boy & GBA Games
MAR10 Day 2026: Virtual Boy and GBA Classics Join NSO
Nintendo continues to ‘celebrate’ Mario’s 40th anniversary. While fans are eagerly awaiting the Super Mario Galaxy Movie this April, the company just dropped a massive update for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. Starting March 10, 2026, three classic titles will be added to the service, including the rare "red-and-black" gems from the Virtual Boy era. But is this enough to quiet Nintendo fans outcries for a new 3D Mario announcement?
The Virtual Boy Resurgence: Mario’s Tennis & Mario Clash
Nintendo is continuing to bolster its recently launched Virtual Boy library on NSO.
Mario’s Tennis (1995): The game that started the legendary sports sub-series. While simpler than the modern Mario Tennis Fever, its charm lies in the unique stereoscopic depth that defined the original hardware. Noticeably, they still only offer the 1-Player option for this game. It would’ve been nice to see the Big N unlock the 2-player feature that’s already in the game. Not that most people are going to take the time to set up two Virtual Boy accessories to play it together, but that would be a nice option to have.
Mario Clash (1995): A 3D reimagining of the original 1983 Mario Bros. arcade game. It’s a fast-paced "tower" action game where Mario must clear enemies across foreground and background planes. I loved this game when it came out. Really great addition for the service.
The Return of the OG: Mario vs. Donkey Kong (GBA)
Perhaps the most surprising addition is the original Mario vs. Donkey Kong for the Game Boy Advance. While Switch owners received a full-blown remake in 2024, the inclusion of the 2004 original allows fans to experience the pixel-perfect platforming and "Mini-Mario" puzzles in their native format.
Why Now? The 2026 Mario Roadmap
This starts the ‘final’ roadmap for Mario’s 40th Anniversary, which I think is going to culminate with an announcement of a new 3D Mario game, before the launch of the film, so they can include it as part of their marketing at the start of the film. Additional dates on the map include:
March 26: Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park
April 1: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie theatrical release.
Ongoing: Rumors of a brand new 3D Mario title for the Switch 2's first holiday season.
Out of Sync Gaming Take
I’m never going to be upset about more Mario games in my library. It’s good timing for all those that got the Virtual Boy Accessory for the NSO. Both of those games are fantastic editions. I’ve never played the GBA version of Mario vs Donkey Kong, which is a great series, so I’m looking forward to checking it out. But overall, it does feel like there’s a missed opportunity for Nintendo to lean into the unoffical holiday of Mar10 day. The internet would go absolutely wild if they decided to announce a new Mario 3D game on that day, but alas, that’s not how Nintendo works.
What about you? Are you excited for these games? Let us know in the comments below.